Image area indicating circuit of a camera

Abstract

A camera, such as a video camera, for photographing or recording an object onto a recording medium including an image area indicating circuit. The image area indicating circuit includes a laser beam generator for generating laser beams, a reflector for reflecting the laser beams to define a photographing area which includes the object to be photographed, and a controller for controlling the angle of reflection of the laser beams reflected by the laser beam reflector in accordance with the camera's degree of zoom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image indicating circuit of a camera including a viewfinder, comprising: a laser beam generator for generating laser beams;   a laser beam reflector for reflecting said laser beams to define a photographing area which includes an object to be photographed;   a zoom key for controlling a degree of zoom; and   a laser beam reflection-angle controller for automatically controlling the angle of reflection of said laser beams reflected by said laser beam reflector to simultaneously adjust the height and width of said photographing area, wherein said object can be photographed without a user having to view said object through the viewfinder of the camera and wherein said laser beam reflection-angle controller comprises means, responsive to the zoom key, for simultaneously controlling the angle of reflection of said laser beams reflected by said laser beam reflector corresponding to the degree of zoom.   
     
     
       2. An image area indicating circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said laser beam generator comprises a plurality of laser semiconductors for generating said laser beams and a laser semiconductor driver for driving said laser semiconductors. 
     
     
       3. An image area indicating circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein said laser beam reflector comprises a plurality of mirrors for respectively reflecting the plurality of laser beams generated by said laser beam generator. 
     
     
       4. An image area indicating circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said laser beam reflector comprises a plurality of mirrors for reflecting said laser beams generated by said laser beam generator. 
     
     
       5. An image area indicating circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said laser beam reflection-angle controller comprises a controller for outputting a control signal representative of the degree of zoom, and a mirror driving device, responsive to said control signal, for controlling the angle of reflection of said laser beams reflected by said laser beam reflector. 
     
     
       6. An image indicating circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said laser beams define four corners of said photographing area. 
     
     
       7. An image indicating circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said laser semiconductors corresponds directly to a single projected laser beam.